Fox taking a page from HBO for 'big event' series

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2011 file photo, Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan attends The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures awards gala at Cipriani's 42nd Street, in New York. Fox is taking a page from HBO and scheduling some "big event" series. The network's entertainment chief, Kevin Reilly, said Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, that Fox wants to order some short series of around a dozen episodes or less, much like the cable network does. Fox announced a development deal with producer, M. Night Shyamalan for "Wayward Pines," a thriller Reilly compare to "Twin Peaks." (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

The network's entertainment chief, Kevin Reilly, said Tuesday that Fox wants to order some short series of around a dozen episodes or less, much like the cable network does. But don't call it a miniseries; the name seems to have a negative connotation in TV now.

Fox announced a development deal with producer M. Night Shyamalan for "Wayward Pines," a thriller Reilly compares to "Twin Peaks." Based on the Blake Crouch novel, "Pines," it involves a Secret Service agent going to an Idaho town to investigate two missing federal agents.

The second deal is to develop "Blood Brothers," about the West Point Class of 1861, with members who fought on both sides of the Civil War yet didn't lose their regard for each other.

Reilly said he hoped the special series would attract famous actors who would normally be reluctant to be involved in television because they don't want to commit to a project that could stretch for several years.

The series are expected to air in 2014.

Associated PressCopyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.